Luke Doucet 'Blood's Too Rich' album

The drifters, loners and ne'er-do-wells on Luke Doucet The White Falcon's new album 'Blood's Too Rich' (Six Shooter, June 24th) really get around. Take the weary, eponymous hero of opener "Long Haul Driver," on the road for 2000 miles, or the in-crisis loser heading west in "Motorbike." Elsewhere, Doucet's bar rats and greasy drunkards make stops in Cleveland, Woodstock and California. These tales are married to Neil Young and Crazy Horse/The Band-inspired swaggering stompers, loping, loose guitar showcases and delicate acoustic numbers. It's sobering to find that the stories on Blood's Too Rich are (mostly) true. If not entirely autobiographical, they are rooted in the musican's own experiences. (All of them, that is, except for the Cure cover, "The Lovecats").

biography
Most family trees are firmly rooted, built on eras of rings, binding each generation to the next. Some stand tall and strong, like oak. These trees have strong bloodlines - fierce and proud and rich. They boast the best stories and even better storytellers. They hold many secrets and carry their own unique emblem, emblazoned upon a torchbearer every new generation forward.

The year is 1973 - the last model year for "vintage" White Falcons. CSNY have reunited for the Human Highway tour. Shortly after the release of Randy Newman's "Sail Away", Luke Doucet is born in Halifax, NS.

They say a good writer writes what he knows. Some people spend years on the road collecting tales and trading licks enough to give their words weight and their music depth, but Luke need not look further than to his own family for inspiration and for all the notes to tell the tales.

He is a master of stories because he knows all the good ones like the back of his hand. His palm is his family tree, and his fingers, spread wide as a web, are the means for his storytelling.

The hand that holds the White Falcon. The hand that masterfully takes the instrument to emotionally uncharted waters. The hand that all the passing eyes fix their gaze upon, note for note, lick for lick, pick by pick.

Nothing gets past this hand. Between pen and paper, nylon or steel strings, it will be written, remembered, repeated. And it will sound better than anything you've ever heard.

Luke Doucet is a virtuoso.

Born into his footsteps, while others take years to find their shoes - let alone grow into them enough to make a stand - here, planted firmly, is the champion storyteller: a man raised in many parts who proudly carries his family's history, unique in itself, from one place to another, wears it on his breast as his armour, his emblazoned emblem. He's better for it because it's what he knows - it's all he knows. It's in his blood.

Produced by Luke himself, Blood’s Too Rich features his band, The White Falcon, starring Rich Levesque on bass, Melissa McClelland on guitar/vocals, and a star-studded cast of characters including Paul Brennan, John Dinsmore, Chris Brown, Todor Kobakov, Bryden Baird, Lindy, Steve O’Connor, Glenn Milchem, Bazil Donovan, Jim Cuddy, Chris Stringer, Neville Quinlan, Chang, and Luke’s daughter Chloe Doucet-Winkelman. Additional production was provided by Ian Blurton and Colin Cripps, and the album was mixed by David Travers-Smith and Andre Wahl. Artwork by Lyle Bell of Whitey Houston and Shout Out Out Out Out.

life story
Luke Doucet has seen a lot in his short 33 years. In this timeline he recalls the most memorable moments from each year of his life - many of which are the subjects of songs on his new album 'Blood's Too Rich' out June 24TH on Six Shooter Records.

Interesting highlights include studying mime at age 11, getting drunk with Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top at 14, touring in a salsa band at 17, and two viewings of films titled Crossroads. He also lists his favorite albums released in each of his formidable years.

Watch Luke perform 'Blood's Too Rich' and light up his White Falcon on the Canadian TV show Belle et Bum here.

At 0, is born in Halifax, NS. Randy Newman releases Sail Away.

At 1, falls out of moving VW mini bus, on the highway & cuts forehead. Tom Waits releases The Heart of Saturday Night.

At 2, gets operation to have testicle prodded down into scrotum. Gets Demerol for pain and stops breathing for a minute. Paul Simon releases Still Crazy After All These Years.

At 3, Mom leaves Dad and packs up kids in VW. The Best of the Band is released.

At 4, sits behind sofa and listens to JJ Cale, Tom Waits & Leon Redbone albums because they have the best album covers in Mom's collection. Elvis Costello releases My Aim is True.

At 5, begins French immersion school and dates two girls simultaneously. Both named Allison. Willie Nelson releases Stardust.

At 6, travels around the Cabot trail, in Cape Breton NS with Dad, who has returned from crossing Russia on a train. Tom Petty releases Damn the Torpedoes.

At 7, gets circumcised. For real. (this shit hurts, never do it to your sons). Pink Floyd releases The Wall.

At 8, moves to Winnipeg with Mom, step Dad and two sisters. The Rolling Stones release Tattoo You.

At 9, gets first job delivering Winnipeg Free Press, also starts first long term relationship. Keeps both for 3 years. Dire Straits release Love Over Gold.

At 10, plays goal for the North Winnipeg Suns, the worst tier 2 team in Winnipeg. Learns to lose. Takes jazz dance class because Mom says, "You love to dance." Feels gay. Quits. Stevie Ray Vaughn releases Texas Flood.

At 11, studies mime. Feels gay. Quits. Takes 6-week unaccompanied train journey from Winnipeg to native Nova Scotia, making stops in Montreal and Toronto along the way. Bruce Springsteen releases Born in the USA.

At 12, makes out with pretty girl for the first time. Enjoys this immensely. Bob Dylan releases Empire Burlesque.

At 13, travels, once more unaccompanied, this time on the Greyhound bus, from Winnipeg to Vancouver. Gets guitar for birthday. Learns to play Squeeze Box by the Who. Is deeply impressed with self. XTC releases Skylarking.

At 14, gets drunk with ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons in honky tonk bar in Taos, New Mexico AND watches Crossroads (not the Britney Spears movie). Enjoys the serendipity of these events. Lyle Lovett releases Pontiac.

At 15, starts blues band with Dad, who has moved to Winnipeg after being jazz guitar player in New Orleans for 6 years. Plays first pro gigs in pizza parlour for Dad's NDP buddies every Wednesday for 2 years. Camper Van Beethoven releases Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart.

At 16, loses virginity. Many times. Discovers Camper Van Beethoven. Decides good songs are as cool as guitar solos. Blue Rodeo releases Diamond Mine.

At 17, plays upwards of 150 shows in Winnipeg, including shows with 8-piece salsa group made up of central American immigrants who refer to him as Luka Santana and whose audience members are primarily prostitutes. Graduates early from high school. The Pixies release Bossa Nova.

At 18, joins Acoustically Inclined and plays hippy-acid-jazz-bluegrass in bars & at festivals. Crosses Canada 7 times in shitty van, while driver (who shall remain nameless) admits to being on acid the entire span of the bands touring career. The Violent Femmes release Why Do Birds Sing?

At 19, moves to Vancouver and joins the Sarah McLachlan band. Tours Europe, US, Canada many more times. Plays Madison Square Garden for the first time. Rheostatics release Whale Music.

At 20, meets mother of soon-to-be-daughter. Dinasaur Jr. releases Where You Been?

At 21, quits Sarah McLachlan band & starts experimental post-surf-rock indie band Veal. Ween releases Chocolate and Cheese.

At 22, anxiously awaits birth of child. Wilco releases Being There.

At 23, welcomes daughter Chloe Dolores Doucet-Winkelman into his life. Releases Hot Loser, the first of 3 Veal records.

At 24, gets REAL job for 3 months (installing office furniture) when session work dries up and touring doesn't pay the diaper bills.

At 25, resumes touring constantly with Veal, records Tilt O'Whirl.

At 26, celebrates the year 2000. Like everyone else. Tours like mad.

At 27, splits with Chloe's Mom. Releases first self-produced solo record, Aloha Manitoba, the inaugural release of Six Shooter Records. Tours like mad. Produces NQ Arbuckle's The Battle Scarred Piñata.

At 28, releases last and heaviest Veal album, The Embattled Hearts. Tours like mad. Moves to Toronto.

At 29, releases live album entitled Outlaws. Doesn't think it's very good. Gets heart good & broken. Writes record about this. Drinks heavily. Quits drinking. Briefly. Starts again.

At 30, releases Broken (and other rogue states). Meets Melissa McClelland when she asks him to produce an album. Likes her very much. Produces her Stranded In Suburbia. Watches Crossroads (the Britney Spears movie) with Chloe. Doesn't think much of it.

At 31, produces NQ Arbuckle's The Last Supper in a Cheap Town.

At 32, produces Melissa McClelland's Thumbelina's One Night Stand.

At 33, marries Melissa and moves to Nashville, Tennessee. Writes the bulk of Blood's Too Rich. Gets homesick for Canada.

To be continued?

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Luke Doucet - Blood's Too Rich